Logan Elm FFA Student Laney Smith Contributed to this article
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Logan Elm FFA equine management team traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts on September 13 to compete in the prestigious Big E Eastern Regional FFA Contest, bringing home first-place honors as regional champions.
The team, made up of Kimberly Petty, Maddox Arledge, Josie Blair, and Laney Smith, qualified for the competition after placing third at state finals earlier this spring. They were the only team representing Ohio at the event.
During the contest, competitors participated in multiple challenges, including a team presentation on horse-owner concerns while boarding horses, a written general knowledge test, judging five classes (three halter and two performance classes), oral reasonings, and a tack and breed identification test.
Individually, the team members excelled:
- Kimberly Petty – 1st place
- Laney Smith – 2nd place
- Maddox Arledge – 7th place
- Josie Blair – 8th place
The annual Eastern Regional FFA Contest, held at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), features more than 20 career development contests, including livestock judging, forestry, agricultural issues, and mechanics. The event provides high school students from across the Northeast an opportunity to showcase their skills, engage in hands-on learning, and connect with industry professionals.
The Logan Elm FFA team’s victory highlights their dedication, teamwork, and mastery of equine management, earning them recognition on a national stage.
